Mea culpa...

[lonelybrit]

So the park ranger went off early Friday morning to spend a week with her friends and family back in Wales. To me, upon her departure, was given the honourable responsibility of caring for her Giant African Snails. My instructions were simple: Water and feed them them every other day.

And I forgot. I was out with some friends in the Sunday evening drizzle when remembrance struck. And it's been getting steadily hotter here, things drying out faster...

I fretted all the way home.

It is slightly odd to realise that I know now the difference between a happy and an unhappy snail, even when they're all hiding inside their shells.

They did not look at all happy. For one horrible moment I feared the worst. One in particular was horribly frilled round the edges and frankly I'd described him as shrivelled. A few had obviously resigned themselves to their fate and had gone into a huddle in the corner to die together. A more hardy individual was pathetically poking his eye stalks between the bars at the top of the tank, as if asking their snail deity for manna from heaven.

Anyway, I hastily misted the entire tank with water. The more strong ones responded immediately - setting off up the walls to soak up every drop of moisture. The frilled one required more misting before he finally ditched his death curl. Incidentally, it was interesting to see how they all responded the same way; all of them heading straight up to the roof of the tank the moment they realised it was 'raining'.

Whilst the snails generally revived themselves, I refilled their water tray. One of them promptly sat in it and you could almost hear the slurping.

By the time food was added to the mix, they were all looking more healthy and shiny. It was the first time I've seen a snail flail with joy - eye stalks waving about as it beheld the sea of new iceburg lettuce. Another one joyeously fell face-first into the slice of cucumber.

As I left them to it, you could actually hear the 'chomp-chomp' as they all tucked in. Awww.

I will never do that to them again *smaps self*

Comments

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

You know that feeling when someone does something clever and wonderful and you feel all glowy with affection. Your account of the poor, neglected snails made me feel that way about you. I want to adopt you as my personal writer. Just write stuff about stuff and let me read it. 'kay?

[lonelybrit]

N'awwww :) The poor neglected snails had perked up enough to have an orgy this morning. I came down to find them all entwined around each other, another mound of small white eggs buried under the water tray. Honestly. They're supposed to be noctornal creatures.

I shall continue to absently waffle about whatever takes my fancy, just for you.

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

Hey, just like the boys we like to entangle. All it needs is a little lube ;-) My own Personal Waffler. I feel so Hollywood, but there you'd be called my PW.

[lonelybrit]

Oh, in a strange way it can look very sensuous. Their necks twining, mouths moving slowing over the curves of the shell. We have put the potted plant between us and them at times, feeling that it just wasn't decent to have such acts going on in public, LOL!

[cheesygirl.livejournal.com]

Hee hee hee! This post reminded me of the episode of Spongebob Squarepants where Squidward forgot to feed Gary the snail while Spongebob was gone. Good lord, I can't believe I just referenced an episode of Spongebob Squarepants.

::facepalms::

Glad the slimy little critters are okay. *g*

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Ahahaha! We've seen that episode. (Several times.)

Glad the little snails are okay. While I'm not a snail person, I feel all warm and affectionate toward them now.

[lonelybrit]

There is nothing little about them, LOL! Their shells are about the size of my fist. But their little faces are quite adorable, once you've got used to them... :)

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I'm tempted to get one now. They sound so expressive the way you talk about them!

[lonelybrit]

They seriously have grown on me. Intially I just saw large slimy snail. But now... Oh, it's their little eyestalks, and the way they go to sleep on the ceilign and forget to hang on so you jsut hear this 'THUD' as they fall off.

Plus, if you don't mind occasonally having wash mites off them and picking away old vegetables, they're very low maintenance =)

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

I just read a whole page of info about them - they're so interesting! I think maybe when the boy is a bit older and more reliable about being gentle with such little creatures we might get a few. :-)

[lonelybrit]

They are quite adorable, and on the whole very easy to maintain. Such a relief after looking after people's cats/dogs/guineapigs/rabbits/etc. Admittedly they're not the most affectionate creatures, and people's reaciton to them does tend to be 'URGH!', but the house is quite fond of them =)

[lonelybrit]

*pets you* There there, we're all nerds round here, there is nothing wrong with referencing ficticious collections of pixels =)

The slimy critters are hardly little, but yes, they are doing fine at the mo - huzzah!

[that_mireille]

Whew! I'm glad they're okay. (And that you shared with us the image of a snail flailing with joy.)

[lonelybrit]

It is slightly disturbing to realise how much I've become attached to these creatures over the course of year, LOL! I can tell when they're pissed off, when they're sleepy, when they're excited. THough, yes, it's the first time I've seen one flail for happiness!

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

I am unreasonably cheered by this entry. And the part about them falling asleep on the ceiling and falling with a thud.

Snail Flail!

[lonelybrit]

*grin* I and the snails are happy to have provided a small piece of LJ cheer!

[chlare.livejournal.com]

For talking about something so wholly disgusting seeming as snails, you make them sound entirely adorable. :)

This has been your random Chlare is catching up on her flist comment. :)

[lonelybrit]

N'awwww *grin* They do grow on you, the ex-housemate actually misses them and coos at their tanks whenever she visits, LOL!